262 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



Two or three more fish were taken amongst the 

 stones at the tail of the cast, and the sport in the Carry- 

 wheel being now ended, the fish were stowed in the 

 hold of the boat, the crew jumped ashore, and a right 

 hearty appeal was made to the whisky bottle. It was 

 first tendered to the veteran Tom Purdie, to whom it 

 was always observed to have a natural gravitation, 

 but to the astonishment of all, he barely put his lips 

 to the quaigh, and passed it to his nephew. 



" Why, uncle, man, what the deil's cam' owre ye ? I 

 never ken'd ye refuse a drappie afore — no, not sin' I 

 war a callant; I canna thole to see ye gang that gait." 



" Why, I'll tell ye what it is, Charlie. I got a re- 

 preef from Sir Walter for being fou the ither nicht." 



" Eh, uncle, hoo was that ?' 



" 'Why,' says Sir Walter, ' Tom,' says he, ' I sent for 

 ye on Monday, and ye were not at hame at eicht o'clock ; 

 I doubt ye were fou, Tom.' 'I'll juist tell ye the hale 

 truth,' says I, ' I gaed round by the men at wark at 

 Eymer's Glen, an' cam' in by Tarfield ; then I went to 

 Darnick, and had a glass o' whisky wi' Sandy Trummel 

 at Susy's, and I war juist comin' awa' when Rob steppit 

 in, and cried for half a mutchkin. I wasna for takin' 

 mair, but the glasses were filled, an' I didna like to be 

 beat wi' them, so I tuk mine.' ' And is that all you 

 had, Tom ?' said Sir W T alter. ' Aye, indeed was it,' said 

 I ; ' but, Heaven have a care o' me, I never was the war 

 o't, till I was gangin' up by Jemmy Mercer's by Coat's 

 Green ; and when I cam' up by Kerr side, I wanted 

 to see Mr. Laidlaw, but I thocht I durstna gang 

 in : and hoo I gat hame I dinna ken, for I never 



